The new collection fee is reasonable and fair
According to Lao Dong, garbage collection units expressed their agreement with the new unit price. Mr. Trieu Kim Bang, Director of Binh Tan District Environment Cooperative, said that the new calculation method will be more fair than the previous unit price, despite some shortcomings in classification at source and concerns about illegal dumping.
Mr. Trieu Kim Bang said that previously, the collection of waste fees applied at the same price of 46,000 VND/household, regardless of population size, causing many questions for people.
Now, when Ho Chi Minh City applies Decision 67 with 3 levels of garbage weight (under 126 kg, from 126 kg to 250 kg and 250-420 kg), Mr. Bang assessed: "The household that generates more garbage will pay more money, so it is fair".
However, Mr. Bang also said that the new wards have begun to meet to implement the city's decisions and there is no exact date to start applying.
Mr. Bang emphasized the importance of clear communication: "Wards must implement the city's decision and unify the announcement of the time of application to each neighborhood so that people can clearly understand and implement it".
Worried about the situation of people not paying for garbage but taking it to throw elsewhere or putting it in public trash bins, Mr. Bang commented: "This situation can happen but it will not happen often. Currently, people's knowledge and awareness have increased; we believe that if the locality actively propagates, these violations will gradually decrease".
Proactively weigh and sign each household's garbage to be fair
Representative of a private garbage collector in Binh Tri Dong ward (Binh Tan district), Ms. Tran Thi Cam Huong, said that her unit has not yet received official information or detailed instructions on the implementation of new garbage collection unit prices that will be applied from next June.
Ms. Huong shared: "We have not yet implemented garbage collection at the new price, and are waiting for the decision from the local government for detailed instructions".
Currently, Ms. Huong's unit is applying the garbage collection rate for households at 88,000 VND, of which 46,000 VND is the collection fee and 42,000 VND is the transportation fee.
When asked about the new garbage collection unit price, Ms. Huong assessed it as "reasonable". However, she is still wondering whether the fee will be calculated according to the estimated volume. "The estimated weight of 126 kg for households is it an estimate or should weigh it at each household? Maybe at that time, I will have to weigh each house to make it fair," she shared.
To ensure fairness for both the people and the collection unit, Ms. Huong suggested: "Our unit will have to carry weights when collecting to accurately determine the quantity of waste. If only estimates, it will not be fair to the people and us."
Ms. Huong admitted: "At first, it will be a bit difficult, but we will try to do the measurement in about the first half of the month so that people can get used to it".
This shows the need for a transition period and detailed instructions so that both people and collectors can get used to the new method.
The application of new garbage collection prices, along with transparent and fair calculation methods, is expected to raise awareness of waste classification at source, contributing to solving the urban environmental problem in Ho Chi Minh City.
